DOPING BOMBSHELL

Bjarne Riis, who won the Tour de France bicycle race in 1996, has just admitted that he had a little help from steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs. Last year’s winner, Floyd Landis, tested positive for drugs after the race. Landis claims he never took any drugs, but the question remains open. At least a half a dozen other racers have admitted taking EPO and other drugs to help them in the race. One of these is Jan Ullrich, who won the race in 1997.

Democratic candidate Carl Perrin has taken a clear position on the doping scandal: “I have never taken steroids, EPO, or human growth hormones to enhance my race for the presidency. With me, what you see is what you get. Win or lose, I will have done it on my own.”

Marian Moonglow, spokesperson for the Edwards campaign, said, “As usual, Perrin is just trying to make something out of nothing. Nobody, surely no one at this campaign headquarters, has suggested that Mr. Perrin had taken any kind of performance-enhancing drugs.”

You can’t help but wonder, though, if Mr. Perrin is trying to create a diversion to lead voters away from all the news that has been coming out about his secret life.